In writing this little work it has been my object to lay before the
rising generation in plain unvarnished language some of the hardships,
privations, and inconveniencies of what the early settlers had to contend
with when they first settled in this country; and if I should unintentionally
misstate or misquote anything, I beg the reader to not criticise too harshly
as everything herein written, excepting dates, is drawn from memory.
But all the incidents herein related being placed upon Memory's page when
it was in a semi-plastic state, they are almost as unerasable as though
chiseled upon the granite. If I can but awaken in the minds of the
young, a desire to compare their conditions with those of the more unfortunate
Early Settlers, and see the many many advantages which they are enjoying,
of which the Pioneers were wholly denied, my object will have been accomplished.

The Author

(signed) Orre Snow March 18, 1899

Nathan Snow was born at Ellington, Conn., March 9th, 1789.
Afterwards his father's family removed to Tolland, Tolland County, Conn.

He had one brother living at Tolland Conn., Joseph, and
one at Syracuse, N.Y. He also had one sister, Anna, who married
one Joel Taylor. They after living in Cattaraugus County,
N.Y. for several years removed to New Albany, Indiana many years ago.
Nathan while a young man decided to seek his fortune in the then far west.
He came to Warsaw then Gennesee County, N.Y. He there became acquainted
with Lura Hovey to whom he was married March 18th, 1813 by Rev.
Hurlburt. By their union they had a family of ten children, seven
sons, and three daughters of whom at this writing (March 18, 1899) there
are five sons and one daughter living. After residing in Warsaw until
February 1827, they decided to penetrate the deep Wild Forest of the still
farther Western New York. And such an undertaking in the depth of
winter and a family of wife, and five children, required a strong, and
courageous heart. But with that undaunted courage of which the Pioneers
of early years were possessed, they with Oxen and Sled containing their
meager possessions set out on their long and tedious journey. After
seven days of slow, and weary traveling they arrived at what is known as
Elm Creek, in the town of Conewango, Cattaraugus County, N.Y. There
by the kindness, and hospitality of a neighbor by the name of Harry
Lampheer, he located his family, took up 107 acres of land adjoining
this neighbor, and went to work. It was the primeval forest - not
a mark of the woodman's ax upon it. He selected a site for the house
and commenced felling the giants of the forest, using them as material
for building his forest home. With Energy, and Perseverance in just
one week's time he had erected a rude structure called a house, into which
he then moved his family. He chinked the openings between the logs
with split bits of basswood, and then plastered over them with mud to keep
out the cold, and piercing wintry winds. Notwithstanding the crude,
and quickly constructed building, it served as a home - and with the huge
back logs, and wood piled high, crackling in the long fire-place, contentment,
and happiness reigned Supreme. But misfortune comes to us unawares.

My father in chopping, and clearing away the timber, unfortunately
cut his foot badly. My mother assisted him into the house, threw
down upon the floor a straw bed, and placed him upon it. The wound
was bleeding most profusely. My mother dispatched my older brother
for a neighbor some distance away, by the name of Alexander Wandale.
He came bringing with him his Powder Horn. When he arrived, the wound
had bled so profusely that the blood had saturated the straw bed upon which
my father lay, and had also made a pool across the floor. Wandale
at once gave him a dose of gunpowder, from his Powder Horn which stopped
the flow in a measure, while one more dose cause it to cease bleeding entirely.
This accident of course caused my father to be laid up for many long weeks.

But I must go back a little in my story. At the breaking
out of the war of 1812, my father enlisted in the Army, and went to Blackrock,
and fought under General Porter. I well remember of hearing
him relate while in a skirmish with the enemy, the old General had gotten
slightly wounded in one of his hands, and it being quite warm, he had unintentionally
rubbed his face with that hand leaving the marks of blood well plastered
thereon, and while in this condition, he gave orders to draw up a field
piece, and fire, saying "G-d- them let them come out into the open field,
and we'll give them h-l"!

My father was promoted to Captaincy during the war. After
many years the Government made a small recompense to him in the way of
Land Warrant.

After living in the log house many years, my father (being one
of the Highway Commissioners of the town) conceived the idea of moving
the highway from the hill, onto Elm Creek flats, and after diligent perseverance
he finally succeeded in obtaining the consent of the other two Commissioners
for the removal. Therefore the road was removed to the flats, and
he built thereon near the bank of the stream, a more commodious farm house
(which my youngest brother now occupies, it having been remodeled) where
he resided until his death, which occurred Oct. 13, 1860. My mother
having survived him many years, died Nov 1, 1897.

The younger people of the present day realize but little the extreme
hardships, and privations which the Pioneers, and their families were obliged
to endure in those days. Breadstuff, and in fact everything which
goes to sustain life was extremely scarce.

There being at that time no Railroads to transport such commodities
from more favored localities; and if there had been, there was no money
with which to buy them. Almost the only source of obtaining that
extremely scarce commodity was by manufacturing black salts, which were
made by leaching hard wood ashes, and boiling the lye in large kettles.

Those were hauled to Buffalo some 60 miles distant, where you
could get money for them.

After my father had cleared a sufficient amount of his land so
he could begin to sow a small quantity of wheat, he sowed some and just
as soon as it was ripe enough to possibly answer, some of it was cut with
a sickle, bound, and transported to the bard - the sheaves being placed
against the sunny side of the barn, until sufficiently dry to thrash.
It was then taken into the barn, and with a flail pounded out. Then
with a hand grain fan the chaf was separated, and the wheat taken into
the house, and spread on blankets, placed on the chamber floor; remaining
there until dry enough to grind, it was then put into a bag put upon the
back of a horse, and placing the writer of this on top of it started for
Crum's Mill, at Clear Creek, some six or seven miles away. I well
remember how carefully, and closely I watched that bag, lest by the motion
of the horse it would get to one side, or otherwise get unbalanced, for
should it once get off it would be an utter impossibility for me to get
it on again.

About half the distance to the Mill, there was a dug-way by the
side of the road very near as high as the horse's back which I invariably
rode up to, dismounted, and tued up or balanced my load, after which I
would remount, and go on my way, with my eye still on the bag.

You can judge how long such a small amount of flour would last
a large family of hungry boys, and girls - in fact I do not think any one
in a new country like that, lacks in the least degree for that reminder
of the stomach called appetite. In the spring of the year as soon
as the cow-cabbage, and cow-slips were up large enough, they were eagerly
sought for to cook for greens, and even leeks were also used. Wild
game was quite abundant, such as Foxes, Deer and occasionally a bear was
seen.

We sometimes had the pleasure of a feast of venison. I recollect
one day a man by the name of Curtis came along, with his rifle on
his shoulder, and said he had just fired at a deer in a neighbor's wheat
field, saying he was sure he had wounded it, but he being in a hurry did
not follow after it. He gave us the direction in which it went, so
my brother Chauncy, and I concluded we would investigate the matter,
therefore started in pursuit. We had not gone far, before we came
upon the Deer lying on the ground. With a Jack-Knife we soon opened
the Jugalar Vein allowing the blood to escape, after which it was carried
to the house, by tying its legs together, and putting a pole through, and
placing it upon our shoulders. All such good luck was duly appreciated
I assure you. I also recollect of seeing a Deer come down out of
the woods, and graze in the pasture, so common were they. One day
some hunters were out hunting, and their dogs chased a Deer down off the
bank on the east side, and across the flats to the west bank, where the
dogs caught him - there being a crust on the snow at the time; the Deer
would break through, while it would support the dogs. We of course
assisted the dogs in dispatching it, and taking it to the house when the
owners of the dogs came, and they dressing it gave a portion of the meat
to us for our trouble. All the so called luxuries and conveniences
which go to make life pleasant, were entirely unknown in those days.
Carriages of every description were an unheard of thing. In fact
people were deprived of any, and everything which would in any way tend
to make physical labor easier. The strong muscular arm of the sturdy
Pioneer was obliged to perform all that which at the present time is performed
by machinery.

The grass was cut with the scythe, raked by hand, the grain cut
with the sickle, thrashed with a flail, cleaned with a hand fan - while
all the farmers implements were of the crudest kind. While in the
kitchen it was ditto. Cooking was all done over the fire-place, kettles
hung on a crane which could be swung out at pleasure, baking done in a
flat bottomed iron kettle, called a bake-kettle, with an iron cover which
was heated by putting coals of fire on top, the kettle sitting on coals
also. Later came a blessing, in the way of the tin bake oven which
was placed before the fire, and bread baked very nicely in it. And
so it was with nearly everything in the way of conveniences in those days,
the above being only a faint idea of what it was then. Even the little
inexpensive article of matches was not in existence. At night people
would cover the coals with ashes in the fire place, so it might keep until
morning. If by any means one was so unfortunate as to have the fire
go out, why they had to go to a neighbor and borrow some. And at
times if they were fortunate enough to have a flint and steel, some Punk,
(a species of rotten wood) by placing the Punk on the underside of the
flint, and drawing the steel quickly across the flint, the Plunk would
ignite, and so get fire in that way.

Speaking of carriages - I recollect at one time of improvising
an Eliptic spring, or rather a spring in the absence of one, by putting
some iron hooks on the edge of a rough lumber wagon box, and placing thereon
some small hemlock poles, and then putting some rough boards across these
for seats. And if any one was fortunate enough to have a sheepskin,
or perhaps a blanket to put on them we men rigged O.K. My! What would
the young lady of today think if a young gentleman should drive up of a
Sunday afternoon with such a rig to take her out riding. Methinks
she would not only lose her breath, but her nose would be elevated at an
angle of about 45 degrees - saying "No Sir! Excuse me; I do not care to
ride". The neighbors were all very social and friendly to each other
there, far more so, I think than at the present day. They would often
at night - yoke up the oxen hitch onto the sled, put in some straw, and
the family pile in, and hie away to some neighbor to spend the evening
in a real old fashion social visit. They were happy, and enjoyed
it hugely - took solid comfort in these evening visits. And many
times they would go to church on Sunday in the same manner, and with the
same conveyance. We would hardly think at the present day of going
to church with such a conveyance.

The advancement, and the improvement of Education has been wonderful
since then. I remember of attending school in the old log school
house on Elm Creek which was located just south of the Tuttle Farm,
almost on the same site where D. M. Metcalf afterwards built a house,
and resided many years. The seats were made of Slabs with holes bored
into them, and small Saplings or poles inserted for legs. If we were
the possessor of a book, it made not so much difference as to the title,
so we were the owner thereof, we must take it to School, and be taught
to read therefrom.

Yes school books in those days were like Jacob's Cattle of many
colors, and kinds, and varied. Later on there was a framed school
house built just across the way from where Wm. Winship now resides.
There we also spent a portion of our school days. And still later
the District being divided, a new school house was built - North of my
father's farm a half mile distant which was then called Farler's Corners.
The house at the present time still remains there, and used as a school
house, (after being remodeled). It was while attending school at
the last named, that we enjoyed so much the old fashioned Spelling Schools.

There existed at that time the greatest of rivalry among the surrounding
schools as to spelling. On the evening appointed for such, the Scientific
Spellers, and also those who were not considered well versed in that Science,
would come from far and near until the house would be literally packed.
At the appointed hour the teacher would call them to order and two of the
Scholars, were designated to choose sides. They taking seats on the
opposite sides of the house would commence choosing. Each choosing
alternately. The boys and girls being chosen promiscuously, and if
a young man was chosen next to a nice young lady it was so much the better
for him, and if by chance one was chosen to sit next to him on the opposite
side, of course he did not object. After all being chosen who were
to take part in the Exercises, the teacher would select some disinterested
person to keep tally. Now all being in readiness, and house quiet,
the teacher commences pronouncing - commencing at the head. If a
word was misspelled, and afterwards spelled correctly by the same side
it was not marked missed - but if spelled correctly by the opposing side
then it was marked missed - and at the close, the Tallyman announced the
number misspelled by each. After perhaps ten minutes intermission,
giving the young people an opportunity to chat, and arrange matters as
to going home with the girls, the house was again called to order, and
the same as to choosing sides was repeated. After spelling at the
discretion of the teacher as to time, they all rose up, and commencing
at the head on one side would spell, and as fast as one missed he or she
sat down. And the last one down was pronounced the victor.
There being intense interest as one after another succumbed, increasing
till the last when the school to whom the victor belonged would vociferously
applaud.

I have enjoyed those old fashioned spelling schools both as scholar,
and teacher. They were always a great source of gratification to
me.

There is one thing in teaching at the present day which has been
discarded (I am thankful for) that was almost universally used in former
times. Yes, I am thankful that people have become sufficiently civilized
as to realize that such a thing as the rod is entirely unnecessary in the
school room. I have taught many terms, and I never yet saw the time
when I deemed it necessary to introduce such an article into the school
room. Kindness is far better to take with you into the school than
the rod. If one cannot govern without the rod, he certainly cannot
with.

Above I spoke of there not being any Railroads in this section
of country in those days. People were under the necessity of hauling
all commodities with teams, no matter how great the distance. I well
recollect in Sept. 1848, the State Fair being held at that time in Buffalo.
Derauyel Thorp and myself were very desirous of attending it, and
as good luck would have it, we found that Mr. Saml. Allen was going
to the city after some loading with a lumber wagon, so we secured a passage
with him.

I never had at that time seen a Railroad. On arriving in
the city, and after viewing to me that wonderful piece of mechanism, an
engine, my astonishment and amazement were - - well, my pen refuses to
describe it, but suffice it to say that I was well pleased and gratified
to think I had indeed seen a real Railroad. My friend and I decided
to even take a ride for the first time to Niagara Falls on this steam vehicle.
Accordingly we took our seats in the cars drawn by the iron horse, and
away we whirled towards the Falls. I say whirled - - yes indeed it
was considered fast riding in those days - - but at the present day we
would only compare it to riding after an ox team. The track of the
road-bed was composed of timbers being placed lengthwise of the road and
flat bars of iron perhaps a half inch in thickness and two inches in width,
were spiked thereon. I am told at times one end of these bars would
become loosened and raise or bend up - - the car wheel passing under it,
the end thereby penetrating the car floor causing many times serious accidents
to passengers. The end at such times was called "Snake-head."
My friend and I remaining at the Falls over night. Hotels were filled
to overflowing, beds being at a premium, but we were fortunate in securing
a lounge for our accomodation for the night. And in order to both
occupy it we were under the necessity of laying our heads in opposite directions,
or "heads and points." Thus we passed the long night, often being
awakened by the roar of the mighty cataract near us. Such lodging
costing us, if I mistake not, 50 cents each. But we were higher than
some of our less fortunate neighbors, who took the soft side of the floor
for their slumbers, paying 25 cents therefor. My pen refuses to picture
or portray the feelings of wonder and amazement upon viewing for the first
time this awful and sublime work of nature. With what feelings of
caution and astonishment must the red man of the forest have approached
and beheld this for the first time. Never shall I forget as I stood
on the bank far above, the feelings which came over me as I with abated
breath gazed at the awful abyss below. One mile from the Falls down
the river a suspension bridge (the first one) had just been completed.
This bridge was only about eight feet in width, with slight railings on
either side. We crossed over on this into the Queen's dominions.
In crossing this, to me extremely frail structure, a feeling of fear came
over me and as I gazed over its sides down, down, hundreds of feet into
the seething, tumbling waters below as they leapt from rock to rock, I
must confess I felt a chilliness in the region of my spinal column, a something
passing rapidly back and forth along the vertebra as though it was in great
haste to get there. A small steamer called the "Maid of the Mist"
(the original one) played between this bridge and the Falls, the water
being sufficiently smooth and free from rocks to admit of this, while below
this point the bed of the river is full of rocks, and the water extremely
rapid, making it almost impossible for a boat to pass down it without being
dashed to atoms. We took passage on the boat on her trip up around
by the Falls and passing as near to the sheet of water as the current would
permit, the mist coming in torrents on the deck of the boat. O! what
a magnificent sight to look out upon that enormous column of water almost
directly over our heads plunging into the depths below. And then
the reaction as it comes rolling, foaming to the surface again - - making
the little steamer quiver and tremble as they beat against its sides like
an aspen leaf. Although propelled by two engines of twenty-six horse
power each, she would at times in passing through those turbulent waters
be swerved from her direct course. A feeling of relief came to me
as we left that raging torrent behind. On returning to the Falls
we found the cars which were to convey us back to Buffalo already standing
on the track (the engine as yet not having been attached) and stepping
in taking seats as by this time our weary limbs needed rest. Presently
an elderly man with a bundle tied in one of those old-fashioned black and
yellow cotton handkerchiefs under his arm, presented himself at the car
door, evidently a back-woods man and like myself, had never before set
eyes on a Railroad car, stood intently gazing and surveying with great
interest the interior of the car. After taking a scrutinizing look
at all its contents he cautiously moved along and taking a seat to the
rear of me. After sitting a few moments still surveying the car and
resting somewhat uneasily, he says to me, "Is there as much danger here
as in the other end of the car?" I thinking to alleviate his fears
somewhat, "O yes!" says I, "there is great danger any where in the car
of being knocked to 'Kingdom come' at any moment!" The engine
soon backed down and hitched onto the train and as it gave the signal for
starting, this man seemed to almost raise from his seat, and I imagined
I could see his hair all standing on end with his cap far above his head.
I am sure he must have felt a great relief when he safely alighted from
the car in Buffalo.

In the year 1846 I attended the Fredonia Academy, Chautauqua County,
one term under the instruction of Prof. F. A. Redington as Principal.
There were no public conveyances at that time whereby I could reach there.
Consequently I had to go with a team. And it being my first experience
in attending any school, save a District one, I must confess I felt much
as the old saying is "Like a cat in a strange garret." There was
but one person (Willard Wellman) in the school or village that I
had ever before seen. I knew nothing about the Modus operandi of
such an institution - - nothing about its rules and regulations, where
to go or what room to enter. But with a limited amount of books under
my arm I made my way into the school-building and as I saw some going up
the stairs to the second floor I thought I might venture to follow, which
I did. Taking my seat I very carefull watched everything that was
being done or transpired in the room. At intervals some of the students
would get up and leave the room, and others would come in. Where
they went or what they did I could not tell – I only knew they went out
and came in that was all. And so it continued until nearly noon I
still remaining in my seat a silent spectator – when one of the teachers
came to me and asked me if I had been assigned to any classes? I
replied in the negative. He then inquired what studies I intended
to pursue? After telling him he said such and such classes came at
such and such hours. But as there was no time piece in the room,
and I not being the possessor of a watch I had no way of discerning very
accurately the time of day – so of course did not go to any classes.
Finally the teacher perceiving I did not leave the room came and told me
when and where to go. After once getting the road learned, I got
along very well. But if any person ever experienced that terrible
feeling called home-sickness I was that person. When Sunday came,
why, I could scarcely contain myself. It really seemed to me that
I could have walked fifty miles to have been at the old home again.
But I never told anyone of the awful, lonely, agonizing feelings I underwent
while there at school. And even at the present day if I hear anyone
speak of being homesick I am sure I can fully sympathize with them in their
sad feelings. I got along very well, but one thing I learned very
readily – that was to stand up for my rights. I very well recollect
one little incident that occurred which will verify the above. There
was a young man attending school then, a son of one of the directors by
the name of Crane, who would invariable hector and irritate anyone who
he thought was a fit subject for him; and especially a new comer in the
school. And he very soon selected me as one of that class as
his victim. He had been playing his pranks upon me for some little
time—when one day we both went to the same class, he taking a seat directly
back of me and soon commenced his irritations upon me. I remarked
to him that he had better attend to his own business and leave me alone.
But he seemed to think he knew best in regard to that matter so continued
his gyrations upon me. I finally told him in a whisper that if he
did that again he would get hit. But I suppose he thought I was not
a man of my word and so tried it once more. He had no sooner done
it when I jumped to my feet and gave him one, square between the eyes with
my fist. The teacher in alarm cried out, "What, what is going on
here?" I coolly turned around and before sitting down, said to him
that ever since I came into the school this young man, Crane, had
been picking upon me and irritating me in every way possible until "Forbearance
had ceased to be a virtue," and I told him that if he did that again he
would get hit – and I almost always kept my word – and I did – and then
sit down. He talked to us a few minutes and then went on with the
class. After we were dismissed from the class Crane came to me and
says "We'll get read in public next Friday." (It being the rule to
read all misdemeanors, calling the student by name in public on each Friday
for the past week.) "Well", I said, "let it come." So on Friday
Crane came (an unusual thing for him to do) and took his seat beside me.
There we sat like criminals in the stocks, expecting every moment to hear
our doom from Prof. Redington. But to our great delight, he said
not a word to us – and I never heard from it again. But Crane attended
to his own business ever after. We were the best of friends from
that time on. He was a brother of Mrs. C. P. Adams of Rudolph.
And at another time while there a fellow by the name of Putnam did something
to me and then started to run away from me and I in hot pursuit until he
came near a pool of mud and water and when just near enough it it, I caught
his foot and sent him headlong into it. He was a fine looking object
when he came out. He also attended to Putnam's affairs after that.
So as I said anyone had to look out for himself and play his part and if
he did they soon let him alone. After that I attended school at the
Randolph Academy – Prof. Post as Principal. I then followed teaching
winters for several years. And the wages which the best teachers
commanded then, compared with what they get now, were small indeed.
The first term I taught I received $12.00 per month. What would the
teachers of today, carrying a certificate of the first grade, (as that
was what mine was) think of teaching for that meager sum. I taught
in one school when I had between 60 and 70 names upon the roll – receiving
then – for $16.00 per month and board – boarding around the District.
After that I taught in East Randolph where I had between 90 and 100 names
upon the roll, and students from almost the first rudiments to advanced
classes. And I had to build my own fires, digging the green wood
from beneath the snow as there was no wood-house, and cutting my kindling
from a huge pine log some 20 or 25 feet in length, furnished me for that
purpose, with an old rusty, dull ax, which the District very generously
furnished me for the occasion. I received for my services in that
school the bountiful sum of $29.00 per month and boarded myself.
I think this was the winter of 1855 and 1856. That very same winter
I paid Amos Dow $8.00 for one half barrel of flour. You talk to the
teachers of today about teaching for such wages and under such difficulties
and they would look upon you as a fit subject for the Insane Asylum.
During the fifties I was elected to the office of Town Superintendent of
Schools for the town of Conewango, N.Y., which I held one or two terms.
Was afterwards elected to the office of Justice of the Peace for the same
town, which I held for some time then resigning. Was then elected
Assessor, which I held seven years – refusing to serve longer in that capacity.
I also held many minor offices in town for many years.

A neighbor living near us by the name of Hiriam Butler
with the help of my older brothers carried on the business of manufacturing
wooden wheels, chairs, rocking chairs, little chairs, foot wheels, etc.
and would often hire my father with his team to take a load of his goods
and make a trip of several days duration around through the country peddling
them – taking in payment therefor all kinds of farm products, such as,
wheat, corn, oats, pork, maple sugar and occasionally a little store pay,
which he almost invariably took in cotton cloth, as that was a standard
article among the early settlers for shirts, pillow-cases, sheets, etc.
It was quite rare that he ever received any cash in payment for his goods.
He would sometimes sell on credit and collect later. I well remember
of one instance when he sold some chairs to a man by the name of Bover
living at what was then called Kents Corners about two miles below Coldspring
on the Allegheny River near the Quaker crossing, who kept what was termed
a Hotel. He sold in those days large quantities of "Sneak-ey-eye"
(whiskey) to both the whites and Indians. All the Indians are extremely
fond of it. This and one other article "Quish-quish" (pork) were
always invariably in good demand among the Indians. And in fact the
whites even, seldom ever refused a drop of the former – Red-eye.
Father sent me several times to collect this debt as it required considerable
urging and dun in those days to collect a debt. I being a mere boy
when the order came for me to march on the "Morra" no one but myself knows
the fear and dread which came over me as I thought of the lonely horse
back ride of some twelve or fourteen miles distance among the Indians.
I had heard so many blood curdling stories told about the Indians scalping
and torturing the whites and their barbarities that it had a great impression
upon my youthful mind, a fear lest my topnot might be lifted. The
road from what is now called the Stewart Farm to the Coldspring
Creek or Brown Farm led through one dense forest of mostly pine timber.
This to me was the most lonely, dismal, and dreary portion of my route.
On one of these occasions as the wind was sighing its lonely requiem among
the lofty pines, they waving their lofty crests in obedience of its will.
My horse carefully picking its way through the mud and among the roots
which ran in every direction across my path, near the middle of these woods
I discovered but a few rods in front of me a sight which almost made my
heart cease to beat and caused the cold chills to course up and down my
spine in rapid succession. For there in front of me and coming directly
towards me was an elderly Indian dress is all his fantastic gewgaw style,
his head decorated with feathers, tomahawk and knife suspended from his
wampam belt, with all his other paraphernalia attached to his person.
The sight of which was enough to almost strike a dread to the stoutest
heart. Scarcely knowing what to do I reined my horse to the opposite
side as far from him as possible and proceeded keeping a vigilant eye upon
him until I was a little past him and thought it safe to do so still keeping
my eye to the rear I put whip to my horse and was soon safely far away
from the object of my fear. A feeling of great relief came to me.
M y hair then began to return to its normal condition, I being thankful
that it was still there and the cold chills ceased to play "tag" along
my spine. But I never traveled that lonely road again without being
forcibly reminded of how I felt on that occasion.

Pardon me if I occasionally digress a little to relate some of
our freaks or boyhood capers. One comes very vividly to my mind just
now. It was in the winter time and there being a nice frozen crust
on the top of the snow, a splendid time for coasting. My brotherinlaw,
G. W. Watkins and myself were out with our sled enjoying ourselves
in general. When on coming to what was called the Orchard Hill as
we stood gazing down it, a hill some 25 or 30 feet in height and almost
perpendicular. About half way down it was a little flat or plateau
of perhaps five feet in width. Watkins proposed that I hazard the
risk of riding down it on our sled. But I of course strenuously objected.
"Why" said he "I dare". And so saying he drew the sled to the brink
and mounted it and started. Sled and he went flying with almost the
velocity of a rifle ball – the sled on leaving the plateau not troubling
itself to keep on the snow but with one tremendous leap went flying through
the air until it reached the bottom, when with some 200 pounds on top of
it struck the snow bedding itself in the hard crust and stopping almost
as suddenly as though it had struck the Rocks of Gibraltar. Now had
Watkins followed the example by the sled and stopped when that did he would
have been all right. But no, far from it – he at once decided to
continue his journey farther. He at once and very abruptly and in
a very hurried manner too, left the sled and measured his length, pitched
head formost into the frozen crust of snow embedding his face and head
therein. When he gathered himself up and brushed the snow and ice
from his face and eyes I discovered his physiognomy was wonderfully changed
and in a very short space of time too. For he had lacerated his face
and nose, the blood trickling therefrom so much so he was almost unrecognizable.
Laugh, well I couldn't help it notwithstanding the accident he had met
with. Suffice it to say neither of us were at all anxious to repeat
the experiment.

I have often thought what a task it must have been for our Parents
to furnish food and clothing for a large family of boys and girls.
Of course the material for doing so must to a very large extent be produced
from the farm. Our summer clothing was mostly made from flax grown
on the farm. After it was sown and had grown to maturity it then
had to be pulled, dried, taken to the barn and the seed thrashed out with
a flail – then it was spread on the grass to be rotted, turned over several
times then taken back to the barn again and then broke, dressed, hetcheled,
etc. The flax being spun into fine yard, was woven into cloth and
used for all extra purposes – such as fine shirts or "go to meeting shirts",
etc. The two being spun into coarse yarn and made into cloth for
every day wear - such as shirts, frocks and pants. The men frequently
while at work chopping and clearing the land would wear one of these two
frocks on the outside of his pants. They were extremely strong and
would not tear under any ordinary circumstances which made them very serviceable
and economical for the rough wear and tear of the Pioneer. Then for
our winter clothing it was a far greater and more wearisome task to take
the wood from the sheep's back and place it upon ours. Allow me to
give you an idea or rather Modus operandi of this procedure. Of course
in the first place the wool had to be grown. Then usually during
the month of June a yard would be erected on the bank of a stream where
a pond of water could be obtained about waist deep. The sheep were
then driven into this yard and one by one taken by the men and boys into
this pond and the wool thoroughly washed. The sheep were then allowed
to remain in the pasture two or three days or until the wool was thoroughly
dry. They were then taken into the stable and a competent hand engaged
to shear them. The wool was then taken to the house where the women
would look it over or pick it, carefully removing all dirt or foreign matter,
etc. therefrom. It was not unfrequently the case that the women on
these occasions would make a bee and invite in her neighbors of an afternoon
to assist her. By this method they would materially shorten the process
of picking. It was then taken to the carding machine and then made
into rolls. It was then brought home again and a girl engaged to
spin them into yarn. Where could we find a girl at the present day
that is possessed of skill to manufacture on a woolen wheel, wool into
yarn? Methinks they would be few and far between, merely a lost art.
Next the yarn was taken to a weaver to be woven into cloth then brought
home and calculations made how many yards they wanted made into full cloth
for men and boys clothing and how many they wanted dressed for flannel
for shirts and women's wear. The cloth was then taken to one Calvin
Hills who owned and conducted a carding and cloth dressing mill on Elm
Creek but a short distance above my father's farm. After all this
labor you just had the material for clothing. The next thing was
to take the cloth to a tailor and he would take measurements of the different
men and boys and cut their garments. Bear in mind there was an expense
attending each one of these operations. Next comes the item of trimmings
and not a very small one either for the merchants in those days did not
believe in small profits – such as linings, thread, buttons, silk, twist,
wadding, buckram, padding, stay linen, etc. etc. Our people usually
engaged two seamstresses - Caroline and Emily Coe, sisters, each
fall to come to the house and make up the clothing. When the total
footings of expenses were taken attending all these operations it made
it extremely dear clothing indeed. But I say all this process of
fuss and time of labor and expense was but the transferring of the wool
from the sheep's back to that of ours.

How different and what a contrast at the present day. Now
one can step into almost any country store and for a comparatively small
sum purchase a good suit of clothes and that is not all, he can immediately
get inside of them without having to wait six or eight months as he was
obliged to in early days. And then the clothing of the other sex
is so different and much more expensive now than then. Then eight
yards of cloth was considered a sufficient amount from which to make a
dress, and from one to two days in which to make it and that without the
aid of machine either as such an article did not exist among them then.
Now the ladies require nearly double the amount of material and if by the
help of a machine they complete a dress in less than two weeks they are
doing pretty well. And then so much more fixtures and furbelows about
their person now than then, that of necessity it requires very much more
time to complete all their regalia. The ladies of earlier times simply
had not the time and means to expend upon dress, their entire energies
being employed in the obtaining of the strictly necessaries of life.
Now if perchance some fair ladie's eye should scan these ill wrought lines
I would not for one moment have her think I was advocating the return of
barbarous, heathenish customs of tight lacing shall forever be done away
with and instead of seeing those unnatural, wasp-like waists we shall see
woman in all her beauty and loveliness as the Great Being designed her,
and that future generations will bless her, and become more vigorous, strong
and healthy for her so doing. Several years ago, while attending
school at Fredonia Academy, N.Y., I had the pleasure of listening to a
course of lectures in Physiology, delivered before the students of that
school by a celebrated physician of New York by the name of Cutter.
He while touching upon this point of the evils of tight lacing and corset
wearing made this suggestion. He said he wished the young men would
form clubs all over the country having this for their motto, "Natural waists
or no wifes". Said he thought it would exert a greater influence
over the young ladies than anything else which might be said or done.

Taking it altogether and looking at it in a common sense way,
it is certainly surprising that as many of the female sex are enjoying
a degree of health under such adverse circumstances as they are, wonderful
indeed! There are other very unhealthy customs of dress which I might
mention, such as high heeled shoes, trailing dresses, high collars or "chokers"
etc. The latter causing a loss of voice and also the use of the muscles
of the neck. But I refrain lest the ladies deem me altogether to
sarcastic.

A singular coincidence in my father's family was that there were
three boys born in succession and then one girl that lived (one boy and
one girl having died while quite young) and then again three boys and one
girl, I being the older of the three younger boys of course it fell to
my lot to be promoted to the office of general errand boy. My older
brothers being engaged in assisting my father in clearing the land and
in raising something for the family to live upon etc. After we had
land enough cleared so we could keep two or three cows for the families'
use my father did so and they were allowed to roam at large in the woods.
And each day as the sun was gradually sinking behind the western woods
the order would invariable come for me to go for the cows. Of course,
I did not know where or in what direction they might be, so I would start
into the woods and after traveling a short distance would stop and listen
intently for the tinkle of the cow-bell. Perhaps at first, I could
not hear it al all, would then travel on still farther into the woods and
gain listening, I might be able perhaps, to hear the faint tinkle, tinkle
of the bell away in the distant forest. I would then travel on and
on, always keeping the direction of the welcome sound in view. After
finding them and starting them, I invariably allow them to take their own
course as it was often very difficult for me to designate the exact direction
I wishes to take to reach home. But my parents had told me that at
any time if I had any doubts as to the course, just let the cows take their
own course and they would lead me to my home. So I would start them
and then keep in very close proximity behind them until they reached home.

Father used to get his blacksmithing done in various places: at
Napoli corners, about one mile from where the R.R. Station now is, and
at Axville. A man by the name of Seffingwell, monopolized the blacksmithing
trade at the last named place. He also made and repaired many axes,
which gave the four corners the name of Axville. I was frequently
sent there to get horses shod, and it was almost invariably an extremely
tedious task. He seldom ever had but a limited amount of stock in
hand and frequently had to manufacture his iron with which to make the
shoes after I got there. To do this he would commence hunting around
over his shop for a scrap of sheet iron. He would then commence gathering
up old bits of iron of every conceivable description putting them into
this receptacle, placing that in the forge, commence heating and welding
these particles together until he had a bar large enough with which to
make a show, and then forge the shoe therefrom. Then he had to make
his nails from nailrod iron and point them. All this had to be done
before he could commence fitting the shoe. So I say it was indeed
a long and wearisome job to get a horse shod in those days. O!
I used to get so awfully hungry before I reached home that I often rode
the last mile or two at a lively rate of speed I assure you.

This man, Leffingwell, was one of those peculiar, or what
might properly be termed odd specimens of humanity. While at his
forge he would suddenly cease manipulating his bellows and in a hurried
manner go to the shop door and casting his eye up and down the street would
then return again to his forge in the same hurried manner. He would
sometimes miss or lose some of his tools about the shop and while searching,
if anyone happened to be present, he would anxiously inquire if they had
seen anything of it. As a natural consequence they would ask him
what kind of a tool it was he wished to find. "Why," says he, and
catching up a piece of chalk would hurriedly draw a diagram of the tool
he was in search of on the floor, exclaim, "there, it looks like that."
I recollect of hearing the story told of him while he was attending and
taking part in a debating school. It seems he thought that his opponent's
arguments were not very closely allied or connected, so when he came to
reply he made this somewhat unique comparison; "My opponent's arguments
are as far apart as the mudsills of hell are from the dome of heaven."
I merely mention these little incidents as a very forcibly showing the
peculiar excentricities of the man. I well remember of assisting
my Mother in making cheese for the family's use and also of constructing
a rude press to press them in. It being so constructed that by placing
the cheese under a long lever and hanging a huge iron pot on the end of
it filled with small stones, it would press them very nicely. Not
being possessed of a very extensive dairy at this time the cheese were
of necessity not huge, perhaps weighing from ten to fifteen pounds each.
But to be strong, robust, romping boys and girls, our appetites being extremely
sharp in those days no use for the grind-stone in that respect, they were
always a welcome viand and eagerly sought for. Mother occasionally
made what was called a sage cheese, sage being introduced into the curd,
which gave it the flavor of that herb. To prevent the cheese from
freezing in winter they were stored in a box of wheat in the chamber.

The Pioneer was obliged to depend upon the forest to a large extent
for his supplies of materials with which to make his farming implements
and tools for use on the farm. For a harrow to harrow the new land
with he would take a crotched tree, making a V shaped implement and putting
iron teeth into it, which served a very good purpose; and for a light vehicle
to do light work, like going to mill etc., I have taken a small crotched
tree, using the body for the tongue and cutting off the crotches some five
or six feet in length and fastening a box on them which made a receptacle
for carrying things in, and by placing the tongue in the yoke between the
oxen and allowing the ends of the crotches to drag on the ground, I had
a vehicle, though rude, which was very convenient. Then for a leach
for leaching ashes for making soft-soap (empty barrels and casks being
scarce indeed) would saw off a piece of a large hollow log and placing
it upright on a platform, fill it with ashes and they were ready to leach.
Again for something to catch the sap in as it ran from the tree would take
smallish cucumber or basswood trees, chopping them up into lengths perhaps
three feet long and then splitting them so each length would make two troughs,
then with the ax dig out the center thereby making a receptacle for holding
sap, called sap-troughs. Indeed the ax was the Pioneer's best friend.

As I have before remarked, carriages were almost wholly unknown.
Therefore horse-back riding was indulged in to a great extent, in fact
it 3was the only mode of conveyance (if they were fortunate enough to be
the possessor of the horse) both for male and female. If they were
not the owner of that very necessary beast, they were obliged to use the
vehicles of nature and go on foot.

It was not unfrequently the case that a young gentleman dressed
in his home-spun suit, would blushingly invite his best girl to accompany
him to the circus or some other place of entertainment, on foot a distance
of perhaps two or three miles and think nothing of it, only as a delightful
pleasure trip. But if he could by some hook or crook secure a nag
for the occasion, he was indeed not only fortunate but happy. He
would don his best, add a little 'ile' to his hair, and perhaps give his
cowhide shoes an extra coat of tallow, mount his steed not forgetting to
take an extra blanket and in the best of spirits hie away to the home of
his sweet-heart and courageously riding up by the side of the fence or
some other convenient place, spread on his blanket behind him, she climbing
the fence would seat herself upon it, and to balance herself she would
gently wind her arms about the waist of her partner and away they would
ride apparently as happy as though seated in an elaborately cushioned barouche.

I recollect one time while my father was one of the trustees of
the school district, he sent me on horse-back after the teacher (it being
the custom for the trustee to send for the teacher in those days.)
Miss Sallie Morton, afterwards Mrs. Sallie Marsh, mother
of Duane and Wellman Marsh. Her parents then living in a log
house on the farm now owned by Ernest Holdridge in the town of Napoli.
I had but one horse with a gentleman's saddle on it. After she had
placed herself in the saddle, I took passage just in the rear of her on
the same conveyance. She taught in a school-house which was located
just opposite of where William Windship now resides, on Elm Creek.
Of course I was one of her pupils at that time. After she became
Mrs. Marsh and while those two boys above mentioned were young and small,
in fact they never succeeded in becoming anything else but small, featherweights,
Inchabod Tuttle happened to call at her house one day and Mrs. Marsh
says to him, "Mr. Tuttle what would you do if you had two such little fellows
as these?" Tuttle after scrutinizing them for a moment or two made
this reply: "Golly, I believe I should put the feed to them." But
she never succeeded in making giants or heavy weights of them. Notwithstanding
Tuttle's advice.

Again father sent me after a hired girl by the name of Lucy Town,
who resided in the town of Leon. On this occasion, I recollect I
was allowed to take an extra horse and saddle, while I was under the necessity
of using a blanket for my saddle, we not being the owner of but one.
Yes, then it was either a lumber-wagon, or horse-back or on foot for conveyance,
according to convenience.

While a small boy and living near one Hiram Butler (heretofore
mentioned) I used to do small jobs for him, like going after his mail at
"Bushnell's Hollow" that being the nearest P.O. for which he would sometimes
pay me as high as one shilling, which indeed I highly prized and coveted.
Then again I would go fishing and catch a small string of brook trout which
he would buy, paying me a few pennies perhaps for them, all of which I
put way down in the lower corner of my small pocket, every little while
pulling them out and carefully counting them to see that I had not lost
any of them or that they were all still there.

One spring a man by the name of Ray Gardner whose home
was near Rutledge came along and stopped at Father's, he had been down
the river on a raft and while there was taken sick with fever, and he was
trying to get to his home on foot. As you must understand there were
no public conveyances at that time. He was very pale, weak and emaciated.
I well recollect Father's sympathy for the poor unfortunate man were aroused,
so he told me to take two horses, the man riding one and I the other, and
escort him a few miles on his journey toward home, which I did. On
parting with him he seemed to be very thankful for our kindness unto him,
and said he had no money, but if I would come to Rutledge the next fall
to general training, he would pay me one shilling for my services.

During that summer, how many, many times did I think of that debt and
think how thankful I would be to have that amount, and also at the very
time when I wanted it most to buy something with. I looked forward
with eager anticipations for the date when I was to receive my cash.
So when the time came I was there. How I got there I cannot tell,
but I was sure I was there. My first object on arriving was to look
out for the man Gardner. So I kept a sharp lookout while being
jostled about by the croud. After looking for a long time without
discovering the object of my search, as good luck would have it, all of
a sudden I came face to face with him. Of course, he did not at first
recognize me, but after making myself known to him and that I was a son
of Nathan Snow and was the lad who carried him on horseback last spring,
he at once went down into his pocket and drew forth the cash and paid me
in full. Wasn't I happy. I went around with my hand in my pocket
tightly clasping the coveted coin, until I espied at one of the stands
some nice looking gingerbread, and I being hungry, I at once squandered
one half of my pile for a card of that gingerbread. That was one
of my weaknesses, and in fact is still, a love for that good old fashioned
gingerbread. What I bought with the balance of my pile, I cannot
tell, but it was all spent before going home I am sure. Yes, I am
quite certain that I prized one of those old copper pennies as highly in
those days as I do a five dollar bill at the present time. Money
was indeed a luxury then.

When the early settlers wished to clear off a piece of timber-land,
it was quite customary for two men at least to work together or in company.
They with their keen axes would walk up to one of the giants of the forest,
one on either side of it, commence chopping, each vieing with the other
in seeing which should but the heart of the tree. After felling it
one would mount the body and measuring off usually about sixteen feet or
thereabouts, commence chopping it off, a task which but few young men at
the present day would care to engage in, to mount a log from one to two
and many times more feet in diameter and cutting it off with an ax, that
bringing into action the strong muscles of the arms and back. While
the other man would commence trimming and piling the boughs. The
most favorable time of the year for chopping down a piece of timber was
during the month of June, while the leaves or foliage were on the trees
and also if timber is cut, then the stumps will not sprout, while if cut
during the winter they will. They usually let this brush and timber
remain until the next spring and would then set fire to it and burn the
brush etc. It then being ready for logging. It being quite
often the case when a man had a large piece to log that he would make a
bee and invite all his neighbors in for miles around to come some afternoon.
Those having a yoke of oxen would come with them, and those who had not
would come as "rollers" to pile up the logs in large heaps ready to burn.
It being the business of the men driving the teams to drag the logs along
by the heaps, while the men with handspikes would pile them up. Having
three men beside the teamster in each gang. Each gang taking a strip
of timber, and then the fun would commence. Each gang trying their
best to excel in making the largest number of heaps and even the oxen many
times would seem to partake of the excitement, the man driving them had
to be very cautious when he wrapped the chain around the log, lest he got
his hand between the log and chain, as many of the teams would become so
accustomed to that peculiar click of the chain after wrapping it around
the log that the instant they heard it they would jump for the heap making
the chain snap. After working hard during the afternoon, and sweating
profusely and the timber being burned black, and more or less dust in the
air, the men would look more like coal heavers than anything else.
The man making the bee would so far as his limited means allow get a substantial
supper for them and after partaking heartily of the same they would all
wend their way homewards with the gratifying consciousness that they had
performed a noble and generous act for their esteemed neighbor. I
think the people in those days were far more willing to do a neighbor an
act of kindness, not so distant, in fact, seemed more like own family than
they do at the present time.

In closing, I wish to give a word of advice to the young, and
in doing so I can do no better than to quote the following valuable advice:
"You are aware, my young friends that you live in an age of light and knowledge,
an age in which science and the arts are marching onward with gigantic
strides. You live too in a land of liberty, a land on which the smiles
of Heaven beam with uncommon refulgence. The clangor of arms no longer
echo on mountains or in our valleys, the garments dyed in blood have passed
away, and you live to enjoy the rich boon of Freedom and Prosperity, purchased
by the blood of our soldiers. These considerations forbid that you
should ever be so undignified of your duty to your country, to your Creator,
and to succeeding generations as to be content to grovel in ignorance.
Remember that knowledge is power, that an enlightened and virtuous people
can never be enslaved, and that on the intelligence of our youth, rests
the future happiness, the grandeur, and the glory of our beloved country.
Go on then with a laudable ambition, and an unyielding perseverance in
the path which leads to honor and renown. Press forward. Go
and gather laurels on the hill of science, linger among her unfading beauties,
drink deep of her crystal fountain and join in the march of fame, become
learned and virtuous and you will be great, love God and serve him and
you will be happy."